1st Quiz Reviewer

Wednesday, 27 September 2023 8:26 pm

I.

1. What is Ethics

- The study of the methods and principles used to distinguish good from bad, right from wrong
actions.

- Etymological meaning – Greek term “ethos” –characteristic way of living belonging to man as a
rational being that is endowed with intellect and free-will

Its Latin equivalent is “mos”, “more” meaning tradition or custom. “Ethos” includes cultural
mannerism, religion, politics, laws and social aspiration of a group of people. “What makes you
a man?” – being rational, different from other animals, free to make decision (intellect) – our
faculty that allows us to acquire knowledge of the good; our thinking correlates our action

2. Why Study Ethics

- Studying ethics is essential for several reasons:

a. Moral Guidance: Ethics provides a framework for individuals and societies to make morally
sound decisions, guiding behavior in various aspects of life.

b. Moral Development: It helps individuals develop a deeper understanding of their own moral
values and beliefs, allowing for personal growth.

c. Conflict Resolution: Ethical principles can aid in resolving conflicts and dilemmas by offering
a rational and systematic approach to decision-making.

d. Social Harmony: A shared ethical framework fosters a more harmonious and just society by
promoting fairness, empathy, and respect for others.

e. Professional Ethics: Many professions and fields have established ethical codes to ensure
responsible and ethical conduct within their respective domains.

f. Global Citizenship: Ethical awareness is crucial in addressing global issues like climate
change, human rights, and social justice, fostering responsible global citizenship.

3. Assumptions of Ethics

- Man is a Rational Being

○ Capacity to know
○ Moral awareness

- Man is Free
○ Capacity to choose good
○ Capacity to exercise choice in his action

4. Objects of Ethics

- are things that ethics studies

1. Doer of the act (physical object)
- person who performs the action
- Moral agent

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 2. The act itself (nonphysical object)
- The action that is pertained
- Moral object

 doer of the act is important because it is the person who responsible for the action
 act itself is important because it is the thing that is being judged as right or wrong

II.

1. General Forms of Acts

There are two general forms of acts:

• Acts of Man
- are all the actions that a human being performs, whether they are voluntary or
involuntary.
• Human Acts
- are those acts that are voluntary and intentional. They are the only acts that can be
morally evaluated.
▪ Classification of Human Acts
□ Moral or Ethical Acts
 Observe or conform to a standard or norm of morality
□ Immoral or Unethical Acts
 Violate or deviate form a standard of morality

2. Components of Moral Acts

Depending on the ethical theory applied, a moral or human act may be ethical/moral or
unethical/immoral if one or two of its elements either conform to or violate a moral principle of
the theory.

Differences in elements emphasized mark the difference between and among major theories
of ethics.

 Object
□ is the physical act itself, such as hitting someone or telling a lie.
 End
□ is the purpose or goal of the act, such as to hurt someone or to deceive them.
 Circumstances
□ are the surrounding factors that can affect the moral value of the act, such as
whether the act was done under duress or whether there were mitigating
factors.

3. Forms of Ethical Analysis

 Utilitarianism:
- Utilitarianism holds that the right action is the one that produces the greatest good for the

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 - Utilitarianism holds that the right action is the one that produces the greatest good for the
greatest number of people.
 Deontology:
- Deontology holds that the right action is the one that is consistent with our moral duties
and obligations.
 Rights ethics (social justice):
- Rights ethics holds that the right action is the one that respects the fundamental rights of
all individuals.
 Virtue ethics:
- Virtue ethics holds that the right action is the one that is consistent with our virtues, such
as courage, honesty, and compassion.

4. Forms of Ethics

 Normative ethics:
- Normative ethics is concerned with the question of what is right and wrong. It seeks to
develop norms or standards of conduct that can be used to guide our actions. Some of
the major normative ethical theories include:
□ Deontology: Deontology holds that the right action is the one that is consistent
with our moral duties and obligations.
□ Utilitarianism: Utilitarianism holds that the right action is the one that produces
the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
□ Virtue ethics: Virtue ethics holds that the right action is the one that is
consistent with our virtues, such as courage, honesty, and compassion.
 Metaethics:
- Metaethics is concerned with the nature of ethical concepts and judgments. It asks
questions such as: What is the meaning of "good" and "bad"? What is the basis of our
moral obligations?
 Applied ethics:
- Applied ethics is concerned with the application of ethical theories to specific practical
problems. Some of the major areas of applied ethics include:
□ Bioethics: Bioethics is concerned with ethical issues in medicine and
healthcare.
□ Business ethics: Business ethics is concerned with ethical issues in business
and the workplace.
□ Environmental ethics: Environmental ethics is concerned with ethical issues
related to the environment and our relationship with nature.

III.

A. UTILITARIANISM

- is an ethical theory that determines right from wrong by focusing on outcomes

- holds that the most ethical choice is the one that will produce the greatest good for the
greatest number
- its core idea is that whether actions are morally right or wrong depends on their effects

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 - its core idea is that whether actions are morally right or wrong depends on their effects

B. UTILITARIAN RULES OF MORALITY

The utilitarian rules of morality can be understood through two main branches of utilitarianism:
act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism. Both approaches aim to maximize overall happiness or
utility, but they differ in their methods and principles:

1. Act Utilitarianism:
○ Act utilitarianism asserts that the morality of an action is determined by its consequences
in a specific situation.
○ According to act utilitarianism, an action is morally right if it produces the greatest amount
of happiness or utility for the greatest number of people in that particular instance.
○ It does not rely on fixed rules but instead evaluates each situation individually to decide
what action will maximize overall well-being.

2. Rule Utilitarianism:
○ Rule utilitarianism, on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of following moral
rules that, when consistently applied, lead to the greatest overall happiness.
○ It posits that moral rules are justified if they generally promote the greatest good for
society.
○ Rather than evaluating each action separately, rule utilitarians advocate following
established rules that have been shown to optimize happiness over time.

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